Low Turnout Marks Djibouti Election as Guelleh Poised to Extend Decades-Long Rule

Voting is under way in Djibouti’s presidential election, but early turnout has been notably low in a contest widely expected to extend President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh’s long hold on power.

Polling stations opened on Friday with only a small number of voters initially turning up, particularly in the capital, where participation remained sluggish through the morning despite more than 256,000 eligible voters nationwide.

The 78-year-old incumbent is seeking a sixth term in office, which would extend his rule to nearly three decades. Analysts say the outcome appears largely predetermined, given his dominance in the political landscape and the limited visibility of his main challenger, Mohamed Farah Samatar.

The election is effectively a two-man contest, but Samatar, leader of a small opposition party, has struggled to gain traction, with low turnout reported at campaign events and minimal national recognition.

Guelleh, by contrast, has dominated the campaign, drawing large crowds at rallies and maintaining strong visibility across the country.

The president has been in power since 1999, having succeeded his uncle, and has consistently won elections by large margins. In the last vote in 2021, he secured nearly all ballots cast.

Guelleh’s candidacy follows a constitutional amendment that removed the upper age limit for presidential candidates, allowing him to run again despite previously being ineligible.

Opposition groups and critics have long questioned the fairness of elections in Djibouti, with some parties boycotting previous polls over concerns about political freedoms and electoral transparency.

Voting is expected to continue throughout the day, with officials suggesting turnout could increase later. However, early indications of low participation underscore the limited enthusiasm surrounding the election.